Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, and Capt. Royal Fusiliers, 2nd
_s._ of the late J.... Dearman Birchall, of Bowden Hall, co.
Gloucester, by his wife, Emily, dau. of John Towitt, of Harehills,
Leeds; _b._ Bowden Hall, 7 March, 1877, and was educ. at Eton and
Magdalen College, Oxford. He obtained a University Commission, being
gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.), 23
May, 1900, and was promoted Lieut. 11 April, 1902, Capt. 1 Oct. 1908,
Major, and Lieut.-Col. 22 Sept. 1914. From 25 March, 1904, to 24 March,
1907, he was Adjutant of the Royal Fusiliers, and on 15 April, 1910,
was seconded for service with the Royal Canadian Regiment, and later
he was on the Instructional Staff, Western Canada. In Aug. 1914, he
was invalided home from Canada, but recovered sufficiently to rejoin
the 1st Canadian Contingent in Nov., and acted as Staff Capt. to the
1st Brigade. Always popular and a keen and most efficient officer he
was appointed to the colonelcy of the 4th Canadians in February, and
was killed in action in the attack on the Pilkem Ridge, near Ypres,
23 April, 1915; _unm._ Speaking of this action F.M. Sir John
French said: “The Canadians had many casualties, but their gallantry
and determination undoubtedly saved the situation. Their conduct
has been magnificent throughout”; and the Official Report from the
Canadian Record Officer at the Front was as follows: “The fighting
continued without intermission all through the night, and to those
who observed the indications that the attack was being pushed with
ever-growing strength, it hardly seemed possible that the Canadians,
fighting in positions so difficult to defend, and so little the subject
of deliberate choice, could maintain their resistance for any long
period. At 6 a.m. on Friday (April 23) it became apparent that the left
was becoming more and more involved, and a powerful German attempt to
outflank it developed rapidly. The consequences, if it had been broken
or outflanked, need not be insisted upon. They were not merely local.
It was therefore decided, formidable as the attempt undoubtedly was, to
try and give relief by a counter-attack upon the first line of German
trenches, now far, far advanced from those originally occupied by the
French. This was carried out by the Ontario 1st and 4th Battns. of
the 1st Brigade, under Brig.-Gen. Mercer, acting in combination with
a British brigade. It is safe to say that the youngest private in the
ranks, as he set his teeth for the advance, knew the task in front of
him, and the youngest subaltern knew that all rested upon its success.
It did not seem that any human being could live in the shower of shot
and shell which began to play upon the advancing troops. They suffered
terrible casualties. For a short time every other man seemed to fall,
but the attack was pressed ever closer and closer. The 4th Canadian
Battn. at one moment came under a particularly withering fire. For a
moment--not more--it wavered. Its most gallant commanding officer,
Lieut.-Col. Birchall, carrying, after an old fashion, a light cane,
coolly and cheerfully rallied his men, and, at the very moment when his
example had infected them, fell dead at the head of his battn. With
a hoarse cry of anger they sprang forward (for, indeed, they loved
him) as if to avenge his death. The astonishing attack which followed,
pushed home in direct frontal fire made in broad daylight, by battns.
whose names should live for ever in the memories of soldiers, was
carried to the first line of German trenches. After a hand-to-hand
struggle the last German who resisted was bayoneted, and the trench
was won. The measure of this success may be taken when it is pointed
out that this trench represented in the German advance the apex in the
breach which the enemy had made in the original line of the Allies, and
that it was 2½ miles south of that line. This charge, made by men who
looked death indifferently in the face--for no man who took part in it
could think that he was likely to live--saved, and that was much, the
Canadian left. But it did more. Up to the point where the assailants
conquered or died, it secured and maintained during the most critical
moment of all the integrity of the Allied line. For the trench was not
only taken, it was held thereafter against all comers, and in the teeth
of every conceivable projectile, until the night of Sunday, the 25th,
when all that remained of the war-broken, but victorious battns. was
relieved by fresh troops.” Major R. Hayter, Brigade-Major, 1st Canadian
Brigade wrote: “Your brother, Percy, fell on the 23rd, leading his
battn. in the first Canadian counter-attack on the 23rd made by the
French, British, and 1st and 4th Canadian battns., just east of the
Ypres Canal. His battn. lost all its officers but four, and some 560
casualties other ranks, but they never wavered and got into the enemy’s
line, saved the day, and prevented the enemy’s advance south along the
east bank of the canal. We are still being desperately engaged, and I
cannot write much, but I am sure you will be glad to hear that he has
been recommended for the Victoria Cross. He was wounded, had his wound
dressed, was wounded again, yet would go on, and fell, leading the
charge which took the trenches.... I had a written message from him
timed 4.20 p.m. acknowledging an order, and I hope some day to be able
to give it to you. His loss has been the greatest blow the contingent
could have had. Loved by all, and worshipped by his officers and men,
we feel that it was his personal magnetism alone which kept his regt.
together, and enabled them to hold what they had gained. All our
deepest sympathies are with you and your family, but his end could not
have been more glorious”; and the following tribute from an old friend
appeared in “The Times” (29 April, 1915): “The claim to have been the
most popular officer in the Army is a large one, and may be advanced in
the name of many a candidate. But it is probable that all who in any
true sense had made Birchall’s acquaintance will claim that no officer
could have been more deeply, and probably none more widely, beloved and
admired. At Eton, at Magdalen, and for fifteen years in the Army, he
was for ever winning to himself friends by the simple but irresistible
charm of his nature--by his manliness and sportsmanship, his humour and
high spirits, his enthusiasm for his profession as in general for the
better things of life. Joining the newly-formed 4th Battn. of the Royal
Fusiliers during the South African War, as a university candidate, he
became closely identified with its fortunes for some ten years; and he
was largely responsible for raising it to the high level of the older
battns. of that famous regt. Beloved alike by his brother officers and
men, he was equally prominent as a leader in soldiering and in sport:
in the field of manœuvre as in the football, the hockey, the hunting,
but especially the cricket field he always played a fine sporting game.
After ably fulfilling the second adjutancy of his battn., he received
the singular distinction of being selected--one of two officers from
the whole Army--to be attached to the Canadian Forces, according
to a scheme for the mutual benefit of both services. In Canada, he
inevitably won through to the same affectionate and admiring popularity
as at home. His period of appointment was extended, he was appointed
to the Staff, and was given an almost transcontinental district of
supervision. The characteristic energy which he threw into this work in
the unaccustomed climate caused a temporary breakdown in his health,
and bitter was his grief, on returning to England, shortly before the
outbreak of war, to find himself entirely forbidden on medical grounds
to take for the present the share in active service for which he had
keenly prepared and eminently fitted himself. To such advantage,
however, did he make use of his time, even of sickness, that, in the
intervals of being visited by a constant stream of devoted friends
from two continents, he compiled the admirable little manual for the
use of regimental officers in the present emergency training, which
he entitled “Rapid Training of a Company for War” (Gale & Polden,
Aldershot). This book rapidly attained a wide success, and was brought
up to date in a second (and subsequent) edition, just as he himself,
recently promoted Major, was appointed first a staff Captain in the
Canadian Expeditionary Force, and in immediate succession given command
of the 4th Canadian Infantry a few days before it sailed for the
front.” Col. Birchall resided at Saintbridge House, Gloucester. His
brother, Capt. J. Dearman Birchall is (1916) serving with the Royal
Gloucestershire’s Hussars Yeomanry.
[Illustration: =Arthur P. D. Birchall.=]
=BIRD, CUTHBERT=, Private, No. 588, 13th Battn. Australian
Imperial Force; volunteered on the outbreak of war; killed in action at
the Dardanelles, 1 May, 1915.
=BIRD, EDWARD=, Private, No. 11984, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards,
_s._ of William Bird, of 14, Albert Terrace, Stafford; served with
the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was reported missing 25
Jan., 1915, and is now assumed to have been killed in action that day.
=BIRD, EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9529). S.S.
106902, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BIRD, FRANCIS CLIFFORD=, 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. King’s Shropshire
L.I., elder _s._ of Francis Bird of Cotswold, Winchcombe, co.
Gloucester, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late Joseph Tibbits, of
Warwick; _b._ Cotswold, Winchcombe, 21 June 1895; educ. King
William’s College, Isle of Man, and Cheltenham College, where he was
a member of the O.T.C. On the outbreak of war he volunteered, was
gazetted 2nd Lieut., 15 Aug. 1914, went to the Front in Jan. and
was killed in action near St. Eloi, 2 March, 1915. He was buried at
Voorezelle; _unm._
=BIRD, FRANK EDWARD=, Corpl., No. 476, C Squadron Essex Yeomanry,
eldest _s._ of Frederick Bird, of Thorley, Herts, by his wife,
Fanny Alberta, dau. of George, Fowler; _b._ Thorley, 25 March,
1893; educ. Hockerill Boys’ Practising Schools; joined Essex Yeomanry
as a Trumpeter in Nov. 1909, and having completed his four years’
service, rejoined for a further period. He was killed in action, near
Ypres, 13 May, 1915; _unm._ He was mentioned in Despatches for
bravery and coolness under fire, and Capt. R. G. Proby, commanding
the Stortford Troop, writing to his father, said: “He took part with
the rest of the Stortford Troop in a very gallant attack on the
German lines. The attack succeeded, but unfortunately our losses were
heavy--he is among the number. I need hardly say how sorry I am to have
to tell you this news. His death will be very greatly felt by the whole
squadron, and especially by his friends in the Stortford Troop, with
whom he was very popular. It will be some consolation to you to know
how bravely he fell.”
[Illustration: =Frank Edward Bird.=]
=BIRD, STEPHEN CARMEN=, Private, No. 67193, B Coy., 25th
Battn., 2nd Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of
the late Stephen Bird, Lieut. 93rd Battn. (died 9 Dec. 1895), by
his wife, Augusta (Amherst, Nova Scotia), dau. of William Bird;
_b._ Mapleton, Nova Scotia, posthumous, 24 April, 1896; educ.
Amherst High School; was employed in the Offices of Canada Car Co.,
Amherst; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the Canadian
Expeditionary Force, 9 Nov. 1914; came over with the 2nd Contingent,
29 May, 1915; went to France, 15 Sept. and was killed in action there,
8 Oct. 1915, by the explosion of a mine; _unm._ A comrade wrote:
“He was a friend at all times and under all circumstances, no one need
wish a better friend, we all loved him and we all mourn his loss.” And
another: “He had splendid courage, and when urged to fall back a little
further a few minutes before the explosion occurred his reply was ‘I am
staying right here.’” Private Bird was a keen athlete and a base-ball
player.
[Illustration: =Stephen Carmen Bird.=]
=BIRD, WILFRED STANLEY=, M.A. Oxon, Lieut., 6th (Reserve),
attached 2nd, Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, _s._ of the Rev.
Henry George Bird, M.A., Rector of Newdigate, co. Surrey, by his wife,
Henrietta Maria, dau. of William Greenham, of Hendford House, near
Yeovil, J.P.; _b._ Yiewsley Vicarage, co. Middlesex, 28 Sept.
1883. He commenced his education at the Grange (Preparatory) School,
Eastbourne, where he captained the cricket and football teams, and
was an immense favourite with the masters and boys alike. He later
proceeded to Malvern and entered the College at the time Canon Sidney
James came to be Headmaster. There he represented his College in
cricket, fives and football. His company also won the College Cup for
military drill. In 1902 he was entered at New College, Oxford, and
his early promise of being a leading sportsman was fully realised. He
represented Oxford in cricket on three successive seasons, and was
Captain of the Oxford side in 1906. He was a member of the Middlesex
Team, though circumstances prevented him from playing in more than
two or three matches during the season. He played for the Gentlemen
against the Players, and was asked to represent England in South
Africa and Australia. He was an extremely careful and good batsman,
but specially excelled as a wicket keeper, and one of the best known
captains in England said: “He is the best wicket keeper I ever saw.”
After leaving Oxford, where he won for himself many friends, he became
a master at Ludgrove. It was here that he spent the last eight years
of his life. His record there is a fulfilment of the promise of his
early days at Eastbourne and Malvern, and his keenness on everything to
do with Ludgrove, and his willingness to put himself out for others,
endeared him to masters and boys alike. He was immensely happy there
and it was a terrific struggle to answer the call, but he never failed
to recognise his duty. A member of the O.T.C., he was gazetted Lieut.
to the 6th Battn. of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 29 Dec. 1914, and
was afterwards attached to the 2nd Battn. at the Front. He was killed,
9 May, 1915, while gallantly leading his platoon near Richebourg St.
Vaast; unm. His Major wrote of him: “Bird was gallantly leading his men
when he was shot, and died instantly.” He adds: “Bird was a splendid
fellow, and a very promising officer and very popular with officers and
men alike. I am more than sorry to lose him.”
[Illustration: =Wilfred S. Bird, M.A.=]
=BIRRELL, GEORGE HENRY GORDON=, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Dumbartonshire)
Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), eldest _s._ of
Col. John Birrell, of Allander House, Milngavie, co. Dumbarton, late
9th Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Army Service Corps
(Highland Division), by his wife, Grace Marguerite, dau. of George
William Masson Buish, of Salto, B.O.; _b._ Milngavie afsd., 2
Feb. 1893; educ. Loretto, gazetted to his father’s old regt., 3 Nov.
1914, and joined at the Front in Feb. 1915. On 10 May, 1915, during
the second Battle of Ypres, the Battn., which formed part of the ..
Brigade, received orders to take and hold a line of trenches near
Hooge; this they did, but at considerable loss. Lieut. Birrell was
killed during the advance, while gallantly leading his platoon under
heavy shell fire. He was _unm._, and was buried in Zouave Wood,
near Hooge.
[Illustration: =George Henry Gordon Birrell.=]
=BIRRELL, KENNETH=, Private, No. 11106, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots
(Lothian Regt.), only _s._ of W. Birrell, by his wife, Alsie (10,
Merchant Street, Edinburgh), dau. of (--) Reid; _b._ Stockbridge,
Edinburgh, 15 Jan. 1895; educ. Glen Street Roman Catholic School there;
enlisted 2 April, 1912, and was killed in action during the retreat
from Mons, 26 Aug. 1914; _unm._
=BISHOP, ALBERT EDWARD=, Signal Boy, J. 24353, H.M.S. Hawke; lost
in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=BISHOP, CHARLES HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3816),
187061, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast
of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BISHOP, EDWIN MAURICE=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. Dorsetshire Regt.,
attached King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., elder _s._ of Edwin Bishop, of
Gosport and Swanwick, Sugar Merchant, by his wife, Janette (The Lawns,
Swanwick, near Southampton), dau. of the late Knowles Richardson, of
Littlehampton and Portsmouth; _b._ Gosport, 19 June, 1891; educ.
Bradfield College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. Dorsetshire Regt.,
21 June, 1912, and promoted Lieut. 1 May, 1913. On the outbreak of the
European War, he left for the Front, 8 Sept. 1914, being attached to
King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., and was killed in action at Illies, France,
18 Oct. 1914; _unm._ His Capt. wrote: “We started attacking
yesterday morning at 6.20 a.m., and your son was leading his platoon
with the firing line. I heard about mid-day that he had been killed; he
was found by one of the other subalterns, and there is no doubt that he
was killed instantaneously. We had all got very fond of him in D. Coy.
We all feel his loss very deeply. Poor fellow! this was his ‘Baptism
of Fire’; he was leading his platoon most gallantly when he was shot”;
and Sergt. Beeching: “We started the attack and advanced under a very
heavy fire from the enemy till we gained a ridge where we all laid
down. Mr. Bishop then rose up on his hands and knees and was in the
act of passing a message along the line when he was hit; the bullet
had entered his forehead and had come out at the base of his skull”;
and Sergt. Spooner spoke of him as: “One who during his short stay
with us had won the greatest admiration and respect from his men.” His
yr. brother, Private G. S. Bishop, A.S.C., died on active service, 10
April, 1915 (see his notice).
[Illustration: =Edwin Maurice Bishop.=]
=BISHOP, FREDERICK HENRY=, Leading Seaman, 229715, H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BISHOP, GEORGE SPENCER=, Private, No. 31591, 178 Coy Army Service
Corps (Motor Transport), yr. and only surviving _s._ of Edwin
Bishop, of Gosport and Swanwick, etc. (see previous notice); _b._
Swanwick, 17 Oct. 1892; educ. Bradfield College; learned motor
engineering at Adams’ Engineering Works, Bedford; enlisted in the Army
Service Corps (Motor Transport) in Dec. 1914, trained at Grove Park
Barracks and afterwards at Reading, where he died of cerebro-spinal
meningitis, after a week’s illness, 10 April, 1915. He was brought home
and buried in Sarisbury Churchyard. A brass tablet to his memory was
put up in the church by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and
men of his company. The Major stated that “He was a very smart soldier
and much liked by all his Company.”
[Illustration: =George Spencer Bishop.=]
=BISHOP, JAMES=, A.B., 229797, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that
ship was sunk by a mine about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=BISHOP, WILLIAM=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 10705), 300546,
H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BISS, FREDERICK ERNEST=, Private, No. 2733, 1/8th Battn.
Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Frederick Biss, of 25, Werley
Avenue, Dawes Road, Fulham, S.W., by his wife, Emma, dau. of Ernest
Roylance; _b._ Shoreditch, 13 May, 1896; educ. Fulham Palace Road
Board School; was a Labourer; joined the Territorials about 1911;
volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914;
went to France, 9 March, 1915, and was killed in action in a trench at
the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; _unm._ He was buried at Wye
Farm, near Loos, with others of his comrades.
=BITTEN, FREDERICK=, Officers’ Steward, 3rd Class, L. 4948, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=BLACK, CUTHBERT THOMAS=, A.B., 224922, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BLACK, FRANK HENRY=, Capt., 4th. attached 1st. Battn. Royal
Warwickshire Regt., elder _s._ of Francis Black, of Fairview,
Great North Road, Finchley, R.B.A., A.R.C.A., Hon. Sec. of the Royal
Society of British Artists, late Principal of the L.C.C. Camden School
of Art, etc., by his wife, Annie Beatrice, dau. of the late John Smith,
of the firm of John Smith, Ltd., 131, London Wall, and grandson of
the late Horatio Black, of Nottingham; _b._ London, 1 Dec. 1887;
educ. City of London School, and in Paris; joined the Artists’ Rifles
as private in 1907, afterwards accepting a commission (20 Jan. 1912)
which he resigned in June, 1914, owing to business pressure. On the
outbreak of the war he volunteered, and there being no vacancy in his
old Coy (A) of the Artists he accepted a commission in the 4th Battn.
of the Royal Warwickshire Regt., 18 Aug. 1914. He was afterwards
attached to the 1st Battn., being sent to it in France in Sept. After
some weeks at the base, St. Nazaire, they went up to the firing line
in Flanders, arriving on 26 Oct. He spent the whole winter in the
trenches. He was promoted Lieut. 1 Nov. 1914, and Capt 1 Jan. 1915,
and was killed in action at St. Julien, 25 April, 1915, during the 2nd
Battle of Ypres; _unm._ His commanding officer, Col. A. J. Poole,
wrote: “He was killed on 25 April gallantly leading his men against
the German trenches. He was the greatest favourite with us all, and
all our sympathy goes out to you in your sad bereavement. Personally,
I feel I have lost a great friend, and one that I shall never be able
to replace as one of my officers. Unfortunately, we have been unable
to recover his body at present, but will make every endeavour to do
so”; and Private H. Roberts, writing from hospital, said: “On Sunday,
25 April, about 4 a.m., Capt. Black gave the order to advance and take
the lines of trenches in front of us. We had advanced the biggest part
of the ground under heavy fire, when the Capt. was shot through the
head. It was impossible for any of us to render him any aid, as death
was instantaneous. I daresay you will have read that he was posted
wounded and missing, but I am sorry to say he was killed, as I was only
a few yards away from him when it happened. The reason the Capt. was
posted missing was because he was so near the enemy’s trenches when he
fell. Capt. Black was one of our most popular officers, and his death
was deeply felt amongst the boys of the Coy. with whom he was a great
favourite.” Capt. Black held the Challenge Cup for highest efficiency
for one year, and gained a number of silver spoons for shooting, and
was very popular with his Coy. He was a member of the School of Arms,
and took a great interest in A Coy.’s camp at Datchet in 1912, 1913,
and 1914, being one of the chief movers in the formation of that club.
[Illustration: =Frank Henry Black.=]
=BLACK, HENRY=, Private, No. 10008, 1st Battn. Scots Guards;
_b._ Mid Calder, Edinburgh; volunteered and enlisted 1 Sept. 1914,
aged 25; reported missing after the fighting on 25 Jan. 1915.
=BLACK, JAMES WILLIAM McKAY=, Private, No. 2089, 1/5th Battn.
Royal Scots, elder _s._ of John Black, of 15, Mertoun Place,
Edinburgh, Blacksmith, by his wife, Christina, dau. of William McKay;
_b._ Edinburgh, 15 Sept. 1883; educ. Gillespie’s School there;
served his apprenticeship as an engineer in Edinburgh; on 18 Jan.
1909, was appointed an assistant in Edinburgh Weights and Measures
Department; passed the Board of Trade Examination held in Glasgow on
the 15–16 Nov. 1911; commenced his duties as an Inspector of Weights
and Measures 16 Feb. 1912; appointed an officer under the Petroleum
Acts, the Explosive Act and the Fabric Misdescription Act, 16 May,
1914; enlisted on the outbreak of the war, 29 Aug. 1914; and was
reported killed in action in Gallipoli, 28 April, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =James William McKay Black.=]
=BLACK, ROBERT=, L.-Corpl., No. 12109, 2nd Battn. Highland Light
Infantry; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported
wounded and missing 24 Oct. 1914, and now assumed to have been killed
in action on that day.
=BLACK, THOMAS=, Private, No. 10674, 1st Battn. The Royal Scots,
2nd _s._ of the late Thomas Black, Calender Worker, and formerly
a Private in the Black Watch, by his wife, Agnes (5, Ramsey Street,
Dundee), dau. of Jack Fields; _b._ Dundee, 23 Sept. 1892; educ.
Mitchel Street Public School there; was for some time employed as
a rope spinner in Messrs. Halket & Adams’ Rope Works, Dundee, and
enlisted in the Royal Scots, 7 June, 1910. He was drafted to the 1st
Battn. in India, and on the outbreak of the European War came home with
his regt. and was killed in action in France, 12 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Pte. Thomas Black.=]
=BLACK, WALTER CAIRNS=, L.-Corpl., No. 2164, 14th Battn. (London
Scottish) London Regt., _s._ of James Black, Bookbinder’s Manager;
_b._ Edinburgh, 10 June, 1888; educ. Daniel Stewart’s College,
Edinburgh; joined on mobilisation 4 Aug. 1914, was promoted L.-Corpl.
for tending wounded under fire and general good conduct in the field,
and was killed in action at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914; _unm._ Black
was by profession a chemist and druggist, qualifying at Edinburgh,
1910; was for some time assistant to Mr. H. Dixon, of Russell Gardens,
S.W., and later joined the staff of Messrs. Allen and Hanbury, of
Lombard Street.
=BLACK, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 11521, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards, _s._ of
James Black, of 12, Wilkies Lane, Dundee; _b._ Aberdeen; volunteered
and enlisted 4 Oct. 1914, aged 19; served with the Expeditionary Force
in France, etc.; reported missing, 18 May, 1915.
=BLACK, WILLIAM=, Sergt., No 11302, 2nd Battn. Highland L.I.,
4th _s._ of Jeremiah Black, by his wife, Matilda, dau. of Joseph
Lowry; _b._ Craigywarren, Ballymena, co. Antrim, Ireland, 28 Jan.
1890; educ. Craigywarren National School; enlisted in April, 1909,
promoted Sergt., Nov. 1914, served with the Expeditionary Force in
France and Flanders, and was killed in action on the Rossitier Road in
the Village of Zonnebeke, five or six miles from Ypres, 14 Nov. 1914;
_unm._
[Illustration: =Sergt. William Black.=]
=BLACK, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 22764, 11th Battn. The Royal Scots,
2nd _s._ of George Black, of Buckhaven, by his wife, Helen, dau.
of Adam Addison; _b._ Howtown, co. Clackmannan; educ. Cowdenbeath,
Fife; was a miner; enlisted 9 May, 1915, and was killed in action near
St. Julien, 15 Oct. 1915, by the explosion of a mine under the trench
where he was on sentry duty. He _m._ at Buckhaven, Fife, 1 Jan.
1908, Isabella Gordon (Randolph Street, Buckhaven), dau. of George
Cargill, and had three children: George Gordon, _b._ 22 Feb. 1909;
William, _b._ 26 March, 1915; and Mary Keddie, _b._ 6 Aug.
1911.
=BLACKBURN, EDWARD=, Private, No. 12548, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards; _b._ York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France,
etc.; killed in action at Richebourg, 12 March, 1915; _m._
=BLACKBURN, HORACE=, Private, No. 8393, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards,
_s._ of (--) Blackburn, of 5, Sheridan Street, Wakefield Road,
Bradford; _b._ Bradford; enlisted 31 Aug. 1912, aged 21; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported wounded and
missing, 20 Oct. 1914.
=BLACKBURN, JOSEPH EDWARD=, Leading Seaman, 226195, H.M.S. Hogue;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BLACKER, CECIL FRANCIS=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Connaught Rangers,
yr. _s._ of Major Frederick Henry Blacker, late 4th Queen’s
Own Hussars, by his wife, Anna, dau. of Sir Joseph Bazalgette,
C.B.; _b._ ...; educ. May Place, Malvern Wells, and Wellington
College, Berks (Purnell’s 1903–06); was at the R.M.C. 1908, entered
the Army, Nov. 1909, gazetted Lieut. Jan. 1911, being 2nd in command
of the Brigade Cyclist Corps when he went to the Front. He was
severely wounded at the Battle of Mons, 23 Aug. 1914, and died at
Netley Hospital, 6 Sept. following; he was buried at Maudins, Naas;
_unm._